SPAC Project: BAF, AAN Train 18,874 Jigawa Women Farmers on Agroecological Practices
From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
No fewer than 18,874 smallholder women farmers and young farmers in Jigawa State have been trained on agroecological practices by the Baba Azumi Foundation (BAF) with funding from ActionAid International.
The founder of BAF, Barrister Aisha Sulaiman Jahun, announced this during a town hall meeting on increasing access to and control over land ownership for smallholder women and young farmers in Jigawa State. She revealed that the beneficiaries were drawn from over 40 communities across nine selected local government areas, where they shared testimonials, success stories, and challenges during the meeting.
Barrister Aisha explained that the town hall meeting on agroecology was designed as a crucial platform for engagement, advocacy, and collaboration among smallholder women farmers, policymakers, agricultural experts, and key stakeholders. The discussions focused on identifying bottlenecks in land access for women and youth farmers, advocating for gender-responsive policies that prioritize women’s land rights and secure tenure, and strengthening collaborations among stakeholders to ensure the sustainability and scaling-up of agroecological initiatives.
She further noted that the Strategic Partnership for Agroecology and Climate Justice (SPAC-West Africa) aligns with ActionAid International’s Transformative Impact Fund (TIF), which aims to enhance food and nutrition security while equipping 120,000 smallholder women farmers and young people with agroecological skills.
The town hall meeting also sought to mobilize smallholder women and youth farmers, engage relevant policymakers, and advocate for land ownership rights and other agricultural benefits.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Dutse Local Government, Dr. Sibu Abdullahi, assured the participants of greater commitment from both the state and local governments toward supporting women farmers.
He further pledged to allocate a higher percentage of land and other resources to women farmers, emphasizing that empowering women equates to empowering the entire society.
Dr. Sibu commended BAF and ActionAid International for organizing such a vital meeting, noting that it would significantly contribute to the development of the agricultural sector and economic empowerment in Jigawa State.
